When We Surrender, God Works Through the Few

The church can begin measuring its future by what it can see: not enough people, not enough volunteers, not enough resources, and too much work falling on the same faithful hands. Jesus never asks anyone to carry His church, because the church belongs to Him. Jesus asks the tired person to stop carrying what He never assigned, and He asks the hesitant person not to be everything, but simply to be available.

First Samuel 13 puts Israel in a place where the numbers say there is no way forward. The Philistines have chariots, horsemen, and people like the sand of the seashore, while Israel is hiding in caves, thickets, rocks, and pits. The Philistines have also made sure Israel cannot arm itself, leaving only Saul and Jonathan with swords or spears. Saul sits under a pomegranate tree with 600 men, but Jonathan sees the same enemy through a different kind of faith.

Jonathan says, “It may be that the Lord will work for us,” because “there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” Jonathan does not know the whole plan, and Jonathan does not claim that two men are enough. Jonathan knows that God is enough. Faith does not always mean knowing exactly what God will do. Faith means knowing who God is well enough to move when the details are still unclear.

The armor bearer answers Jonathan with a simple, “I am with thee according to thy heart.” The body of Christ does not require everybody to do everything. Jesus gives different gifts, burdens, abilities, and opportunities, and surrender means asking Jesus what He wants each person to carry. Relationship with Jesus must come before service for Jesus, because a person who does not know His voice will either do nothing or try to do everything.

Jonathan receives the sign, but then Jonathan has to climb. Faith had to climb. Jonathan can climb the hill, swing the sword, and surrender himself, but Jonathan cannot shake the earth. God sends the trembling through the Philistine camp. God calls His people to do their part, while God keeps the earthquake for Himself.

The movement of Jonathan and his armor bearer stirs others to move. Saul’s 600 men join the battle, Hebrews who had been with the Philistines return, and those hiding in the mountains come out to pursue the enemy. First Samuel makes the final point plain: “So the Lord saved Israel that day.” Jonathan participates, but the Lord saves. Jesus builds His church and invites surrendered people into what He is already doing, so that all the glory returns to Him.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God is not restrained by numbers God does not wait until circumstances look strong before He works. Jonathan saw one armor bearer beside him and an army in front of him, but he knew the size of the army did not limit the Lord. The real question is not whether there are enough people, but whether there are willing hearts. [51:36]
• 2. Faith knows God before the outcome Jonathan did not demand a full explanation before he moved. His confidence came from the character of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not from a guaranteed result. Faith becomes steady when it rests in who God is rather than in what can be predicted. [53:44]
• 3. Surrender is not doing everything Jesus does not call every person to carry every need in the church. Surrender asks, “Lord, what do You want me to carry?” and also, “What do You want me to release?” A good thing can become a heavy thing when it replaces time with Jesus or becomes driven by guilt. [59:05]
• 4. Faith must eventually climb Jonathan could have spoken about God’s power from the bottom of the hill all day. The sign came, but obedience still required hands, feet, risk, and movement toward the enemy. God often asks for a real step of obedience before revealing what only He can do. [62:20]
• 5. God receives the victory’s glory Jonathan’s courage mattered, the armor bearer’s faithfulness mattered, and the people eventually joined the battle. Yet Scripture refuses to let human effort take the final credit: the Lord saved Israel that day. Christ’s church is served by His people, purchased by His blood, and sustained by His power.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [41:32] - A Church That Wonders, Do We Have Enough?
• [43:40] - Jesus Owns and Leads His Church
• [45:22] - Israel’s Impossible Situation
• [49:45] - Saul Sitting, Jonathan Moving
• [51:36] - No Restraint to Save by Few
• [53:44] - Faith Knows Who God Is
• [56:23] - The Armor Bearer Says, I Am With You
• [58:00] - Surrender Is Not Doing Everything
• [60:33] - Jonathan Receives a Sign
• [62:20] - Faith Had to Climb
• [64:17] - Jonathan Climbs, God Shakes the Earth
• [66:31] - One Surrendered Life Moves Others
• [70:38] - Those in Hiding Come Out
• [72:17] - The Lord Saved Israel That Day
• [75:01] - Jesus, What Do You Want From Me?

1. What words does Jonathan use to describe what the Lord is able to do through many people or through few people? [51:36]
2. How does the armor bearer respond when Jonathan invites him to go toward the Philistine garrison, and what does his response show about his willingness? [56:23]
3. What action does Jonathan take after receiving the sign, and what happens in the Philistine camp that Jonathan could not have caused himself? [01:04:17]
4. According to 1 Samuel 14:23, who is given credit for Israel’s salvation, even though Jonathan, the armor bearer, Saul’s men, and others all took part? [01:12:17]

1. Jonathan says, “It may be that the Lord will work for us.” What does this reveal about the difference between trusting God and demanding certainty about the outcome? [53:44]
2. Why is it important that Jonathan did not believe two men were enough, but believed that God was enough? How does that change the way a church views its needs and limitations? [51:36]
3. The armor bearer did not try to take Jonathan’s role, and Jonathan did not ask the armor bearer to do everything. What does their partnership suggest about how believers can serve alongside one another? [57:14]
4. Jonathan climbed the hill, but God caused the earth to tremble. What might be the difference between the part God asks believers to do and the results only God can bring? [01:05:07]

1. When you look at your church, family, work, or personal life, where are you most tempted to focus on what is missing—people, money, time, ability, or confidence? How might Jonathan’s confidence in God reshape that perspective? [55:19]
2. Is there an area where you have been waiting for complete clarity before obeying God? What might a faithful next step look like, even if you cannot see the whole outcome? [53:49]
3. Are you more likely to do nothing because you feel unqualified, or to do everything because you feel responsible? What could it look like to ask Jesus, “What do You want me to carry?” [59:05]
4. Is there a good responsibility you have been carrying that may not actually be yours to carry right now? How could you prayerfully discern whether Jesus is asking you to continue, seek help, or release it? [01:00:07]
5. What is one “hill” Jesus may be asking you to climb—a conversation, a ministry step, an act of encouragement, a prayer commitment, or a step beyond comfort? What makes that step feel difficult? [01:05:43]
6. Who around you may need an armor-bearer kind of encouragement? How could you come alongside someone this week with practical support, prayer, or a simple willingness to serve with them? [56:56]
7. Where do you feel pressure to produce results that belong to God alone? How can you faithfully do your part while leaving “the earthquake” to God and giving Him the glory for whatever follows? [01:06:08]